Editing Webster Parish, Louisiana

{{short description|Parish in Louisiana, United States}}
{{other uses|Webster County (disambiguation){{!}}Webster County}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Webster Parish, Louisiana
| official_name           = Parish of Webster
| native_name             = <!-- if different from the English name -->
| native_name_lang        = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead -->
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| settlement_type         = [[List of parishes in Louisiana|Parish]]
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| image_skyline           = Webster Parish Courthouse, LA.jpg
| imagesize               =
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| image_caption           = Webster Parish Courthouse in Minden (dedicated May 1, 1953) was a project of the contractor [[George Caldwell (Louisiana official)|George A. Caldwell]].
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| image_map               = Map of Louisiana highlighting Webster Parish.svg
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| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|United States}}
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| subdivision_name2       = [[North Louisiana]]
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| established_date        = 1871
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| founder                 =
| named_for               = [[Daniel Webster]]
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| seat                    = [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]]
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| area_total_sq_mi        = 615
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| area_land_sq_mi         = 593
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| area_water_sq_mi        = 22
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| population_footnotes    = <!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
| population_as_of        = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_total        = 36967
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| population_rank         = [[List of parishes in Louisiana|LA]]: 29th
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| area_code               = [[Area code 318|318]]
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<!-- website, footnotes -->
| website                 = {{URL|http://www.websterparishla.org/index.html|Parish of Webster}}
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}}

'''Webster Parish''' ([[French language|French]]: ''Paroisse de Webster'') is a [[List of parishes in Louisiana|parish]] located in the northwestern section of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Louisiana]].
The [[County seat|parish seat]] and largest city is [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the Webster Parish population was 36,967.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Webster Parish, Louisiana|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Webster_Parish,_Louisiana?g=0500000US22119|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 22, 2023}}</ref> Public officials who have long sought to increase the industrial potential of the parish, expressed concern over the d<nowiki></nowiki>ecline. Jim Bonsall, the president of the Webster Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body, cited the ending of the [[Haynesville Shale]] boom as the primary reason for the population losses. The parish has long depended on jobs in the [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] fields.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://press-herald.com/webster-parishs-population-declines-for-sixth-year/|title=Webster Parish's population declines for sixth year|newspaper=Minden Press-Herald|author=Bruce Franklin|date=May 23, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref>

The parish is named for 19th-century American statesman [[Daniel Webster]] of [[Massachusetts]] and [[New Hampshire]]. It was created on February 27, 1871<ref>{{cite book|last1=Calhoun|first1=Milburn|last2=McGovern|first2=Bernie|date=April 29, 2008|title=''Louisiana Almanac''|edition=18|publisher=Pelican Publishing|isbn=978-1-58980-543-9|page=278|author1-link=Milburn E. Calhoun}}</ref> from lands formerly belonging to [[Bienville Parish, Louisiana|Bienville]], [[Bossier Parish, Louisiana|Bossier]], and [[Claiborne Parish, Louisiana|Claiborne]] parishes. The parish centennial celebration was held in May 1971. Speakers included Police jury president Leland Garland Mims and Judge Enos McClendon of the Louisiana 26th Judicial District Court, who gave a biographical sketch of Daniel Webster. Many officials and parish employees dressed in period costume of the 1870s for the event.<ref>"Webster Centennial Officially Opened," ''Minden Press-Herald,'' May 3, 1971, p. 1.</ref>

Webster Parish is part of the [[Shreveport–Bossier City–Minden CSA]].

Among the first settlers in Webster Parish was Newett Drew, a native of [[Virginia (U.S. state)|Virginia]], who about 1818 established a [[grist mill]] at the former Overton community near Minden. At this time the area was Natchitoches Parish and later Overton became the Parish Seat of Claiborne Parish in 1836 until it moved in 1848. His son, [[Richard Maxwell Drew]] was born in Overton and served as a district judge and [[Louisiana State Legislature|state representative]] prior to his death in 1850 at the age of twenty-eight. R. M. Drew's descendants held judicial or legislative positions in Webster Parish as well, Richard Cleveland Drew, Harmon Caldwell Drew, [[R. Harmon Drew, Sr.]], and Harmon Drew, Jr.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.mindenmemories.org/Drew%20Family.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090107035056/http://www.mindenmemories.org/Drew%20Family.htm|url-status= usurped|archive-date= January 7, 2009|title=Drew Family|publisher=mindenmemories.org|access-date=June 5, 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the parish has a total area of {{convert|615|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|593|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|22|sqmi}} (3.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_22.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 2, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928155956/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_22.txt|archive-date=September 28, 2013}}</ref>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-20.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 20 in Louisiana|Interstate 20]]
* [[Image:I-69 (Future).svg|25px]] [[Interstate 69|Future Interstate 69]]
* [[Image:US 79.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 79#Louisiana|U.S. Highway 79]]
* [[Image:US 80.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 80#Louisiana|U.S. Highway 80]]
* [[Image:US 371.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 371#Louisiana|U.S. Highway 371]]
* [[Image:Louisiana 2 (2008).svg|25px]] [[Louisiana Highway 2]]

===Adjacent counties and parishes===
* [[Lafayette County, Arkansas|Lafayette County]], [[Arkansas]]  (north)
* [[Columbia County, Arkansas|Columbia County]], [[Arkansas]]  (northeast)
* [[Claiborne Parish, Louisiana|Claiborne Parish]]  (east)
* [[Bienville Parish, Louisiana|Bienville Parish]]  (southeast)
* [[Bossier Parish, Louisiana|Bossier Parish]]  (west)

===National protected areas===
* [[Kisatchie National Forest]] (part)
* [[Caney Lakes Recreation Area]] near Minden (not to be confused with another Caney Lake near [[Jonesboro, Louisiana|Jonesboro]], Louisiana)

==Communities==
=== Cities ===
* [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] (parish seat and largest municipality)
* [[Springhill, Louisiana|Springhill]]

=== Towns ===
* [[Cotton Valley, Louisiana|Cotton Valley]]
* [[Cullen, Louisiana|Cullen]]
* [[Sarepta, Louisiana|Sarepta]]
* [[Sibley, Louisiana|Sibley]]

=== Villages ===
* [[Dixie Inn, Louisiana|Dixie Inn]]
* [[Doyline, Louisiana|Doyline]]
* [[Dubberly, Louisiana|Dubberly]]
* [[Heflin, Louisiana|Heflin]]
* [[Shongaloo, Louisiana|Shongaloo]]

=== Unincorporated communities ===
* [[Midway, Webster Parish, Louisiana|Midway]]
* [[Yellow Pine, Louisiana|Yellow Pine]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1880 = 10005
| 1890 = 12466
| 1900 = 15125
| 1910 = 19186
| 1920 = 24707
| 1930 = 29458
| 1940 = 33676
| 1950 = 35704
| 1960 = 39701
| 1970 = 39939
| 1980 = 43631
| 1990 = 41989
| 2000 = 41831
| 2010 = 41207
| 2020 = 36967
| estyear = 
| estimate = 
| estref = 
| align-fn = center
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 2, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 2, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/la190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 2, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 2, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/22119.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 18, 2013}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Webster Parish, Louisiana – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALPL2010.P2?g=050XX00US22119&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |access-date=February 26, 2025 |website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US22119&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=December 29, 2021 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|26,067
|style='background: #ffffe6; |22,554
|63.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |61.01%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|13,756
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12,142
|33.38%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32.85%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|138
|style='background: #ffffe6; |136
|0.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|116
|style='background: #ffffe6; |138
|0.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|8
|style='background: #ffffe6; |12
|0.02%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|Some Other Race alone (NH)
|20
|style='background: #ffffe6; |76
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.21%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|432
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,221
|1.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.30%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|670
|style='background: #ffffe6; |688
|1.63%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.86%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''41,207'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''36,967'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 36,967 people, 16,551 households, and 10,295 families residing in the parish.

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2010 there were 52,903 people, 20,500 households, and 12,589 families residing in the parish. The [[population density]] was {{convert|92|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 18,991 housing units at an average density of {{convert|32|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the parish was 65.51% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 32.83% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.34% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.19% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.22% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.90% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 16,501 households, of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.70% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the parish the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 26.00% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the parish was $28,408, and the median income for a family was $35,119. Males had a median income of $30,343 versus $20,907 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the parish was $15,203. About 15.30% of families and 20.20% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 29.60% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

==Law, government, and politics==
In 1996, the Webster Parish Police Jury approved a $1,849,000 bid to the firm Finney Co. of Shreveport for construction of a new parish library facility on Est and West Street in Minden.<ref>"Library bid approved", ''Minden Profess-Herald'', March 12, 1996, p 1.</ref>

Webster Parish is generally competitive in most contested elections. The parish voted for Republican [[Barry Goldwater]] for president in 1964 and [[George Wallace]] in 1968, when the former [[governor of Alabama]] ran on the [[American Independent Party]] ticket. [[Richard Nixon]] won here in 1972, and [[Jimmy Carter]] of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] prevailed in 1976. In 1984, [[U.S. President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] won the parish by a nearly two-to-one margin over former [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Walter F. Mondale]].<ref>Marilyn Miller, "Webster follows trend", ''[[Minden Press-Herald]]'', November 7, 1984, p. 1</ref>

In 2000, [[governor of Texas|Governor]] [[George W. Bush]] of [[Texas]] won in Webster Parish with 9,420 votes (55.1 percent), compared to then Vice President [[Al Gore]]'s 7,197 (42.1 percent). [[Patrick Buchanan]] of the [[Reform Party (United States)|Reform Party]] held 183 votes (1.1 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11072000/11072000_60.html|title=Webster Parish election returns, November 7, 2000|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|access-date=November 17, 2012}}</ref> In 2004, Bush again won the parish, having polled 11,070 votes (60 percent) to Democrat [[John Kerry]]'s 6,833 (37 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11022004/11022004_60.html|title=Webster Parish election returns, November 2, 2004|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|access-date=November 17, 2012}}</ref>

In 2008, U.S. Senator [[John McCain]] of [[Arizona]] carried Webster Parish with 11,417 votes (62.5 percent), compared to [[Barack Obama]]'s 6,610 (36.2 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11042008/11042008_60.html|title=Webster Parish presidential election returns, November 4, 2008|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|access-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref> Four years later in 2012, Republican [[Mitt Romney]] led in the parish with 11,400 votes (61.9 percent), 17 fewer ballots than McCain had received. In 2012, President Obama polled 6,802 votes (36.9 percent), 192 more than his 2008 tabulation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11062012/11062012_60.html|title=Webster Parish presidential election returns, November 6, 2012|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|access-date=November 11, 2012}}</ref>

The last Democrat hence to have won in Webster Parish at the presidential level was [[Bill Clinton]] in 1996, who received 9,688 (55.3 percent), compared to Republican [[Robert Dole]]'s 6,153 ballots (35.1 percent). [[Ross Perot]], founder of the Reform Party, held 1,324 votes (7.6 percent). In that same election, the Democrat [[Mary Landrieu]] carried Webster Parish in her successful U.S. Senate race against Republican [[Woody Jenkins]], 8,459 (51.3 percent) to 8,020 (48.7 percent).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://staticresults.sos.la.gov/11051996/11051996_60.html|title=Webster Parish election returns, November 5, 1996|publisher=staticresults.sos.la.gov|access-date=November 17, 2012}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Webster Parish, Louisiana|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 7, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|10,965|5,053|187|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|11,830|6,172|214|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,542|6,260|343|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|11,400|6,802|214|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|11,417|6,610|243|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|11,070|6,833|546|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|9,420|7,197|473|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|6,153|9,688|1,676|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|6,640|8,380|3,244|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,204|7,434|167|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,055|6,509|113|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|8,865|8,568|214|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|7,550|7,286|181|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,829|2,859|661|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|2,496|2,871|8,646|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|8,177|1,755|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1960|Dixiecrat|3,139|1,273|3,255|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,280|2,352|1,101|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,442|4,544|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1948|Dixiecrat|455|1,933|2,903|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|899|3,655|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|332|3,777|4|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|301|2,799|6|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|73|3,020|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|356|1,430|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|52|929|52|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|112|1,009|0|Louisiana}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|6|1,040|2|Louisiana}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|9|696|124|Louisiana}}

==Education==
The elected [[Webster Parish School Board]] operates local public schools.

It is in the service area of [[Bossier Parish Community College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lctcs.edu/our-colleges|title=Our Colleges|publisher=[[Louisiana's Technical and Community Colleges]]|accessdate=June 3, 2021}}</ref>

==National Guard==
The 39th MP Company of the 773rd MP Battalion and the 1083rd Transportation Company of the 165th CSS (Combat Service Support) Battalion reside at [[Camp Minden]] west of Minden, formerly the [[Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant]]. Both of these battalions are part of the 139TH RSG (Regional Support Group).

== Notable people ==
* [[Alan Bean]], astronaut, fourth person to walk on the Moon
* [[Louis Dunbar|"Sweet Lou" Dunbar]], basketball player, 27-year player for the [[Harlem Globetrotters]]
* [[Gene Austin]], crooner, singer of "[[My Blue Heaven (song)|My Blue Heaven]]," the best-selling American single until 1942
* [[Marshall H. Twitchell]], [[Reconstruction era|Reconstruction]] official, victim of assassination attempt
* [[John Cecil Jones]], [[World War II]] veteran and [[lynching]] victim
* [[John L. Nelson]], jazz musician under the name Prince Rogers, father of musician [[Prince (musician)|Prince]]
* [[Charlie Hennigan]], [[American Football League All-Star game|AFL All-Star]] wide receiver
* [[James Burton]], guitarist, member of the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]
* [[Roger Carr]], [[Pro Bowl]] [[NFL]] wide receiver
* [[Percy Mayfield]], [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] singer
* [[John David Crow]], [[American football]] player, coach, and college athletics administrator
* [[John T. Watkins]], eight-term member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]]

==See also==
{{Portal|United States}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Webster Parish, Louisiana]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Webster Parish, Louisiana
|North     = [[Lafayette County, Arkansas]]
|Northeast = [[Columbia County, Arkansas]]
|East      = [[Claiborne Parish, Louisiana|Claiborne Parish]]
|Southeast = [[Bienville Parish, Louisiana|Bienville Parish]]
|South     =
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Bossier Parish, Louisiana|Bossier Parish]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Webster Parish, Louisiana}}
{{Louisiana parishes}}
{{Webster Parish, Louisiana, Representatives}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|32.70|-93.33|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-LA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Webster Parish, Louisiana| ]]
[[Category:Louisiana parishes]]
[[Category:1871 establishments in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1871]]